"Advanced Industries Must Come for Further Development"… Autonomous Districts Compete to Attract AI and Robot Industries

Gangnam-gu, Establishment of Robot Hub District
Seocho-gu, Promotion of AI Special Zone and ICT Specific Development District
Gwanak-gu, Efforts to Develop Gwanak S Valley

A bird's-eye view of the Gwanak S Valley venture startup hub revealed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in the Southwest Region Grand Renovation Plan.

Competition among Seoul's districts to attract advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics is fierce. Attracting advanced industries can have significant effects on revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs. Building related infrastructure and creating a conducive environment can also serve as a foundation for continuous development of the area through synergy effects with existing local industries.

Currently, the Gangnam area is leading the competition in Seoul. It already has the environment in terms of both physical and human resources. Many innovative companies are concentrated along Teheran-ro in Gangnam-gu.

Gangnam-gu is actively carrying out a project to establish a robot hub district. Since the end of last year, a pilot project for outdoor autonomous delivery robots has been underway around Teheran-ro and Seolleung Station. In the Suseo and Segok-dong areas, a hub district densely populated with robot-related research institutes, companies, and startup support facilities is being created. The ‘Robot Plus Demonstration Development Support Center,’ which will be completed next month in Suseo-dong, is the official starting signal.

In the future, the site of the Suseo Station transfer parking lot will house the Seoul Robot Tech Center (SRTC) of Seoul City. Gangnam-gu plans to allow robot companies to move into the office and distribution complexes within the Suseo Station area and is also promoting a service to designate a specific development promotion district to attract robot companies.

Seocho-gu plans to establish an industry-academia-research cluster by promoting the designation of the Yangjae AI Special Zone and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Specific Development Promotion District centered around Yangjae-dong and Umyeon-dong.

R&D centers of Samsung, LG, KT, and others are already established, and the number of AI-related startups moving in is increasing. This year, an AI Support Center will open, followed by the Gangnam Data Center (GDC) next year as related anchor facilities. When the AI Seoul Tech City is established in Yangjae-dong in 2028, it is expected to become the hub of the domestic AI industry, gathering talented individuals, companies, and research institutes. The Yangjae-dong area has already been selected by Seoul City as a target site for the ICT Specific Development Promotion District, and Seocho-gu is separately promoting the designation of the ICT Specific Development Promotion District.

Gwanak-gu is focusing on creating the ‘Gwanak S Valley’ venture startup hub space. Seoul City and Gwanak-gu plan to develop this area into a new startup cluster connecting Teheran-ro and Guro G Valley. As a result, the Nakseongdae area will develop into an AI hub research complex and a venture startup hub space for industry-academia-research with startup support facilities. Seoul City announced related plans in February when it unveiled the Seoul City Grand Renovation vision. The city and district plan to prepare a development plan this year and start the project with a feasibility study next year.

Mapo-gu is also working to attract AI and robotics companies centered around Sangam-dong DMC (Digital Media City), and Dongjak-gu has announced plans to develop the Noryangjin area, currently undergoing redevelopment, into an advanced industrial complex by building an AI and robotics tech town.